The citizens of St. Paul have never been shy about confronting the City Council about threats to their quality of life. But it's a mystery why the Minneapolis Star reporter who wrote this story didn't ask what effect flying specks of sulphuric acid might have on human flesh.
 

Nylons Damaged,
St. Paul Women
Demand Action

 

Twenty irate office women appeared before the St. Paul city council today and demanded action.

They said their nylons have been damaged by soot in the city’s loop.

William Parranto, commissioner of public safety, explained that such soot falls from the chimney at Saint Paul hotel. The hotel, he said, burns a Wyoming oil which contains a liberal percentage of sulphur.

Smoke therefrom, he continued, contains specks of sulphuric acid, which burns holes in nylons.

Parranto said he will close the hotel heating plant in 30 days unless, in the meantime, the management installs machinery to collect the soot or otherwise corrects the condition.

The women seemed satisfied with the action.

Louis Maurer, superintendent of Mother's Friend Laundry in St. Paul, helped load laundered silk stockings into a Salvation Army truck in 1943. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org)